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Toronto Sun
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Vladimir Putin says grandchild speaks fluent Chinese, has Beijing nanny
Putin's remark illustrates the two nations' close relationship Published Jun 19, 2025 • 1 minute read Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends signing ceremony after the meeting with his Indonesian counterpart in Saint Peterburg on June 19, 2025. Photo by ANATOLY MALTSEV / AFP via Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his grandchild speaks fluent Chinese because her nanny is a Beijinger, underscoring tight Moscow-Beijing relations. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'I mentioned that some of my close relatives are studying Chinese; I was referring to my granddaughter, whose nanny is from Beijing. She speaks Chinese fluently with her,' Putin said during the meeting with foreign journalists in St. Petersburg that ended early Thursday. Russians are showing greater interest in learning Chinese as economic ties between the two nations deepen and annual trade hits $240 billion, Putin said. Putin's remark offers a rare insight into the Russian president's personal life and illustrates the two nations' close relationship. China hasn't joined in the international sanctions that Russia was hit with after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, instead emerging as a key trading partner. Putin, 72, is extremely private. Officially he is known only to have two adult daughters from his first marriage. He hasn't publicly disclosed his children's names. But both of them — Maria Vorontsova, 40, and Katerina Tikhonova, 38 — have been sanctioned by the US, the European Union and the UK over the war in Ukraine. Putin is not the only isolated leader whose focus has shifted to China, including at the family level. Nikolay Lukashenko, 20, the youngest son of the Kremlin's closest ally, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, has apparently been studying at a university in Beijing. NHL Editorial Cartoons Soccer NFL Columnists
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Putin says grandchild speaks fluent Chinese, has Beijing nanny
Mr Putin's remark offers a rare insight into the Russian president's personal life and illustrates the two nations' close relationship. PHOTO: EPA-EFE MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his grandchild speaks fluent Chinese because her nanny is a Beijinger, underscoring tight Moscow-Beijing relations. 'I mentioned that some of my close relatives are studying Chinese; I was referring to my granddaughter, whose nanny is from Beijing. She speaks Chinese fluently with her,' Mr Putin said during the meeting with foreign journalists in St. Petersburg that ended early on June 19. Russians are showing greater interest in learning Chinese as economic ties between the two nations deepen and annual trade hits US$240 billion (S$309 billion), Mr Putin said. Mr Putin's remark offers a rare insight into the Russian president's personal life and illustrates the two nations' close relationship. China hasn't joined in the international sanctions that Russia was hit with after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, instead emerging as a key trading partner. Mr Putin, 72, is extremely private. Officially, he is known only to have two adult daughters from his first marriage. He hasn't publicly disclosed his children's names. But both of them – Ms Maria Vorontsova, 40, and Ms Katerina Tikhonova, 38 – have been sanctioned by the US, the European Union and the UK over the war in Ukraine. Mr Putin is not the only isolated leader whose focus has shifted to China, including at the family level. Mr Nikolay Lukashenko, 20, the youngest son of the Kremlin's closest ally, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, has apparently been studying at a university in Beijing. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
